Rally to protest Smokies backcountry camping fee

A backcountry fee rally will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 21, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to heighten awareness and provide information about the proposed backcountry fee that will be imposed starting next year.

Backcountry camping is currently free in the Smokies, but the park will impose a $4 per person per day fee next year to fund backcountry rangers and information desk.

Southern Forest Watch will be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center through 3 p.m. As part of this informational session, a drawing will be held for an autographed copy of Jim Casada’s book, Fly Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There also will be a fly fishing and backcountry gear demonstration, and information obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests that address the process to implement the first-ever user fee in the Smokies. www.southernforestwatch.org.